31 Quotes About Astrophysic

Space is a fascinating subject. It’s a vast expanse of emptiness, infinite possibilities, and infinite mysteries. To look at the heavens and know that our planet is but one spec among billions is an awe-inspiring thought. However, it can also be a little intimidating as well as daunting Read more

The questions we all want answered about our place in the universe. And those answers may change as we continue to learn more about our world and all of its secrets. As we continue to explore the depths of the cosmos and beyond, we find ourselves fascinated by its ravishing beauty and limitless possibilities.

These astrophysics quotes will not only inspire you to look up at the stars, but remind you that we are just another speck of dust in that vastness.

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In 2002, having spent more than three years in one residence for the first time in my life, I got called for jury duty. I show up on time, ready to serve. When we get to the voir dire, the lawyer says to me, “I see you’re an astrophysicist. What’s that?” I answer, “Astrophysics is the laws of physics, applied to the universe–the Big Bang, black holes, that sort of thing.” Then he asks, “What do you teach at Princeton?” and I say, “I teach a class on the evaluation of evidence and the relative unreliability of eyewitness testimony.” Five minutes later, I’m on the street. A few years later, jury duty again. The judge states that the defendant is charged with possession of 1, 700 milligrams of cocaine. It was found on his body, he was arrested, and he is now on trial. This time, after the Q&A is over, the judge asks us whether there are any questions we’d like to ask the court, and I say, “Yes, Your Honor. Why did you say he was in possession of 1, 700 milligrams of cocaine? That equals 1.7 grams. The ‘thousand’ cancels with the ‘milli-’ and you get 1.7 grams, which is less than the weight of a dime.” Again I’m out on the street. . Neil Degrasse Tyson
We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the...
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We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out–and we have only just begun. Neil Degrasse Tyson
People who believe they are ignorant of nothing have neither...
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People who believe they are ignorant of nothing have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and unknown in the universe. Neil Degrasse Tyson
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These philosophically fun ideas usually satisfy nobody. Nonetheless, they remind us that ignorance is the natural state of mind for a research scientist. People who believe they are ignorant of nothing have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and unknown in the universe. Neil Degrasse Tyson
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During my time in high altitude astronomy, I routinely witnessed workers breathing medical oxygen, industrial carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium gas as part of their daily work routine. Steven Magee
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At the W.M. Keck Observatory on the very high altitude summit of Mauna Kea, there was no routine monitoring of mental functioning, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure or heart rate of workers. Steven Magee
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Snow cleaning of the world's largest telescope mirrors was an impressive sight. The optics technicians would climb into a huge telescopic boom lift and spray immense clouds of cold carbon dioxide snow and gas onto the ten meter diameter mirrors high above the floor indoors. It would cause some of the accumulated dirt to magically fall off, leaving it less dirty. Steven Magee
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Abnormal radiation exposure and oxygen starvation teaches you that reality is just a perception that is derived from your immediate environmental conditions. Steven Magee
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It would appear that the blue sky is actually produced by the solar wind and solar radiation exciting air molecules to emit light, just like a neon lamp! Steven Magee
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The arrow of time obscures memory of both past and future circumstance with innumerable fallacies, the least trivial of which is perception. Ashim Shanker
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My memories of my time in high altitude astronomy indicate that there were no oxygen concentration monitors or alarms in the areas that liquid nitrogen was in use at the high altitude astronomical facilities where I had worked. Steven Magee
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In high altitude astronomical facilities we routinely discharged large amounts of nitrogen gas into closed spaces. We were never informed by the astronomy management team about the abnormally low oxygen environments that the use of liquid nitrogen creates, how long term exposure to it manifests itself in human health and the resulting abnormal mental behaviors. Steven Magee
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The toxicity of medical and industrial gas to the human depends on where it is used. A gas that is regarded as safe in a well ventilated environment at sea level may be a toxic gas in an indoor environment at high altitude. Steven Magee
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One of the biggest lies that is currently being told in the USA workplace is on the legally required OSHA poster: All workers have the right to a safe workplace. Steven Magee
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But every day I go to work I'm making a bet that the universe is simple, symmetric, and aesthetically pleasing–a universe that we humans, with our limited perspective, will someday understand. George Smoot
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When I worked in high altitude astronomy, the worst sickness that I experienced was not at the 13, 796 feet very high altitude summit of Mauna Kea Observatory (MKO) in Hawaii, it was at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) in Arizona at the much lower altitude of 6, 875 feet. Due to my very high altitude experiences, I knew that this strange sickness was not primarily caused by altitude sickness and was most likely Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). After reporting various behavioral problems in all of the staff to the management team, my contract was not renewed, I was unable to legally protect the health and safety of the workers that I was responsible for, troubleshooting of this environmental problem stopped and I left in a sickened state for my next position before I could find the root cause. Steven Magee
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When the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) found out that Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were going to visit the site to assist in bringing it into legal compliance, they freaked out! They insisted that the visit had to be canceled and the result was that I eventually became so sick from the toxic workplace environment that I had no option but to leave. Steven Magee
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I have been through the OSHA system twice and I can confirm that I did not have the right to a safe workplace or whistle-blower protection on either occasion. Steven Magee
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Over-the-counter ‪‎drug‬ ‪‎abuse‬ or addiction was a problem that I observed at Mauna Kea Steven Magee
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The astronomical community need to start acknowledging jet aircraft contrails to be the problem that they really are! Steven Magee
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Pluto is dead, I know as I observed the Terminator that was sent to kill it Steven Magee
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Industrial liquid gas containers were left open and venting gas into the indoor environment in high altitude astronomy. On reflection, I realized that I routinely observed mental and physical effects that match those of a low oxygen environment in staff that I supervised. Steven Magee
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When discharging industrial gas into the indoor environment in high altitude astronomy, we never wore breathing respirators that fed us oxygenated air at above the legally required 19.5% oxygen levels. Steven Magee
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When I worked in astronomy, I routinely observed young college and university students working with liquid nitrogen and breathing nitrogen gas as they discharged it into the indoor environment at high altitude. Steven Magee
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Astronomy staff that routinely discharged industrial gas into the indoor environment at high altitudes did not wear oxygen deficiency monitors or protective breathing respirators. Steven Magee
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Very high altitude astronomy only works by ignoring established biological science Steven Magee
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This fits in with what I saw in staff in astronomical facilities and was reporting to the management team: 10-14% Oxygen: Emotional upset, abnormal fatigue, disturbed respiration. Steven Magee
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Oxygen deprivation and supplemental oxygen are both bio-hazards for Mauna Kea workers Steven Magee
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Working on the summit of Mauna Kea was comparable to working on the hospital pulmonary ward with sick people sucking on oxygen cylinders. Steven Magee
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Hardly has the universe stretched its wings to span When it gathers to egg once more J. Aleksandr Wootton